Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, March 5
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
15-15 (9-8MAC)
68
vs
61
Ball State
15-15 (6-11MAC)
1
2
F
Ball State
24
37
61
Eastern Michigan
36
32
68
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Thompson Leads Eagles Past Cardinals on Senior Night, 68-61
3/5/2019 10:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
James Thompson IV posts career-high 23 boards to become EMU’s all-time rebounding leader
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
PHOTO GALLERY
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) shined in his final regular season home game as the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team used a strong opening half to defeat Ball State University on Senior Night, 68-61, Tuesday, March 5, inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (15-15, 9-8 MAC) have won four of their last five at home to improve to 11-6 this season inside the Convocation Center, while BSU (15-15, 6-11 MAC) has dropped three of its last four overall.
In all, Thompson tallied 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting and surpassed the program's all-time rebounding mark held by Kennedy McIntosh with a career-high and Convocation Center-record 23 boards. It marks the first time Thompson recorded at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a single game since posting 26 and 20 at Miami, Jan. 28, 2017. The 6-foot-10 forward picked up his 73rd career double-double and also ranks among the program leaders with 1,811 points (6th), 130 games played (2nd), and a 63.3 percent field goal efficiency (1st).
Redshirt senior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) added 17 points and a team-best four assists while grabbing three rebounds and a pair of steals. Fellow redshirt senior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) contributed 13 points and paced the Eagles with three blocks and three swipes. Additionally, senior Isaiah Green (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield (Lansing C.C.) made his first career start for the Green and White and tallied two points in six minutes of game action.
EMU was the superior team on the offensive end, finishing 49 percent (25-of-51) from the field, while Ball State was held to a 38.5 (20-of-52) percent efficiency. The Eagles also edged the Cardinals with more points in the paint (34-28), steals (7-6), and points off turnovers (17-10).
The Green and White trailed by as many as six in the opening half, but Thompson and Jackson each scored four points as part of an 8-0 run to give the Eagles their first lead, 15-13, with 10:39 to go in the frame. Ball State briefly jumped back in front, but Minnie buried a three to put EMU ahead, 18-17, with 8:40 to go in the first half.
Behind 19-18 at the third media stoppage, EMU, Thompson's alley-oop capped a 10-0 run and lifted the Eagles to a 28-19 lead with 4:39 left in the first period. Through the opening 20 minutes, Thompson netted 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting to go with 13 boards as the Eagles held a firm 36-24 advantage.
With EMU in front by a 41-32 margin, Thompson pulled down his 18th rebound of the night to move into sole possession of the program's all-time rebounding mark with 15:58 left in the second period. Ball State eventually trimmed the deficit to one possession, but a triple from redshirt sophomore Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) made it a 60-54 contest with 4:21 remaining in regulation.
Having already eclipsed the 20-rebound plateau, Thompson completed his second career double-double-double with a free throw that gave the Eagles a 61-56 edge with 1:50 left. Groce's second three of the half put EMU ahead, 64-58, with 1:10 to go, before the Green and White used free throws the rest of the way to pull out a crucial 68-61 win.
EMU wraps up the regular season with a short trip to the Glass City to take on the University of Toledo Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in Savage Arena.
PRESS CONFERENCE
PHOTO GALLERY
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) shined in his final regular season home game as the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team used a strong opening half to defeat Ball State University on Senior Night, 68-61, Tuesday, March 5, inside the Convocation Center.
The Eagles (15-15, 9-8 MAC) have won four of their last five at home to improve to 11-6 this season inside the Convocation Center, while BSU (15-15, 6-11 MAC) has dropped three of its last four overall.
In all, Thompson tallied 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting and surpassed the program's all-time rebounding mark held by Kennedy McIntosh with a career-high and Convocation Center-record 23 boards. It marks the first time Thompson recorded at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a single game since posting 26 and 20 at Miami, Jan. 28, 2017. The 6-foot-10 forward picked up his 73rd career double-double and also ranks among the program leaders with 1,811 points (6th), 130 games played (2nd), and a 63.3 percent field goal efficiency (1st).
Redshirt senior Paul Jackson (Stone Mountain, Ga.-Martin Luther King Jr. (Eastern Kentucky)) added 17 points and a team-best four assists while grabbing three rebounds and a pair of steals. Fellow redshirt senior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) contributed 13 points and paced the Eagles with three blocks and three swipes. Additionally, senior Isaiah Green (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield (Lansing C.C.) made his first career start for the Green and White and tallied two points in six minutes of game action.
EMU was the superior team on the offensive end, finishing 49 percent (25-of-51) from the field, while Ball State was held to a 38.5 (20-of-52) percent efficiency. The Eagles also edged the Cardinals with more points in the paint (34-28), steals (7-6), and points off turnovers (17-10).
The Green and White trailed by as many as six in the opening half, but Thompson and Jackson each scored four points as part of an 8-0 run to give the Eagles their first lead, 15-13, with 10:39 to go in the frame. Ball State briefly jumped back in front, but Minnie buried a three to put EMU ahead, 18-17, with 8:40 to go in the first half.
Behind 19-18 at the third media stoppage, EMU, Thompson's alley-oop capped a 10-0 run and lifted the Eagles to a 28-19 lead with 4:39 left in the first period. Through the opening 20 minutes, Thompson netted 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting to go with 13 boards as the Eagles held a firm 36-24 advantage.
With EMU in front by a 41-32 margin, Thompson pulled down his 18th rebound of the night to move into sole possession of the program's all-time rebounding mark with 15:58 left in the second period. Ball State eventually trimmed the deficit to one possession, but a triple from redshirt sophomore Ty Groce (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln) made it a 60-54 contest with 4:21 remaining in regulation.
Having already eclipsed the 20-rebound plateau, Thompson completed his second career double-double-double with a free throw that gave the Eagles a 61-56 edge with 1:50 left. Groce's second three of the half put EMU ahead, 64-58, with 1:10 to go, before the Green and White used free throws the rest of the way to pull out a crucial 68-61 win.
EMU wraps up the regular season with a short trip to the Glass City to take on the University of Toledo Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in Savage Arena.
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
FG%
.385
.490
3FG%
.235
.308
FT%
.708
.538
RB
38
33
TO
12
8
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballF/C
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